What to Do in Amsterdam

That Isn't in the Brochure

![A sun-dappled canal with a row of bikes leaning against the bridge railings, houseboats lining the water, and a cluster of old gabled houses in the background. Filename: amsterdam-canal-morning.jpg]()

Look, I get it. You've seen the photos of our canals, you've heard about the Anne Frank House, and someone's definitely told you about the coffee shops.

But here's the thing about Amsterdam: the city everyone talks about and the city I actually live in are two different places entirely.

I'm Maartje, I've lived here my entire life, and I've watched this city transform from a quirky European capital into a global tourist magnet. The good news? Underneath all that tourism infrastructure, the real Amsterdam is still here. You just need to know where to look.

When people ask me about things to do in Amsterdam, I usually start with a question: What kind of traveler are you? Are you here to check off the famous attractions, or do you want to understand what makes this city tick? Because the best things to do in Amsterdam aren't necessarily the most photographed ones.

They're the experiences that reveal something essential about how we live, how we think, and why this small, soggy city became one of Europe's most influential places.

![A crowded Amsterdam street]()

The things to do in Amsterdam that locals actually recommend aren't always the ones that make it onto Instagram. Sometimes they're quieter, weirder, or require walking an extra ten minutes away from the crowds. But they're also the experiences that'll make you understand why we love living here, instead of just checking boxes on a to-do list.

Here's my honest take on what to do in Amsterdam: both the must-sees and the hidden gems that most guidebooks miss entirely.

![A narrow alleyway with colorful street art murals covering the walls, bicycles parked along the sides, and warm light spilling from a small café window. Filename: amsterdam-street-art-alley.jpg]()

What Should I Visit First in Amsterdam?

Things to do in Amsterdam

When visiting Amsterdam, start with the Anne Frank House, but do it right. Book your tickets online weeks in advance, I'm talking the moment you book your flights.

The House isn't just a tourist attraction; it's a profound experience that contextualizes everything else you'll see in our city.

The narrow rooms and steep stairs tell a story that goes far beyond what any guidebook can convey.

But here's what the brochures won't tell you: after your visit, walk through the Jordaan neighborhood instead of heading straight to your next museum.

This is where she would have walked, where the resistance operated, where ordinary Dutch people made impossible choices.

The streets haven't changed much. The narrow houses still lean forward, the canals still reflect the same light, and if you know where to look, you can still see bullet holes in some of the brick walls.

![The exterior of the Anne Frank House with visitors queuing respectfully outside, morning light casting long shadows across the cobblestones. Filename: anne-frank-house-morning.jpg]()

Dutch Art Galleries

One of the major tourist attractions is the Van Gogh Museum, which houses the largest collection of his work, but skip the audio guide. Instead, stand close to "The Potato Eaters" and notice how thick the paint is.

Vincent Van Gogh wasn't trying to make pretty pictures; he was trying to capture something urgent and true. The museum does an excellent job of showing his progression, but the real revelation is seeing the actual brushstrokes.

The Museum gets crowded by mid-morning, so arrive early, when it opens. Better yet, book an evening slot during their Friday night openings.

The crowds thin out, the lighting is more intimate, and somehow the paintings feel more personal when there aren't thirty people crowding around Van Gogh's "Starry Night."

Quick tip

Both attractions are less crowded first thing in the morning. Amsterdam wakes up slowly, which works in your favor. Most tourists don't realize that things to do in Amsterdam are always better experienced before 10 am or after 4 pm.

Are Amsterdam's Canals Worth the Hype?

When visiting Amsterdam, another must-see experience is the Amsterdam Canals. Amsterdam's canals are a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The canal tour industry wants you to believe you need to see Amsterdam from the water, and honestly? They're not wrong. But they're doing it all wrong. Don't try to see all the canals; focus on the smaller ones with the right tour boat.

Skip the big glass boats with the recorded commentary. Instead, find one of the smaller electric boats or a free ferry that holds maybe twelve people.

Even better, rent a pedal boat at Vondelpark and cruise the smaller canals yourself. You'll move at human speed instead of tourist speed, and you can actually have conversations with your travel companions.

The thing about these boat tours is that they're all selling you the same postcard view, but Amsterdam's picturesque canals tell different stories depending on when and how you experience them.

A canal cruise at sunset reveals the golden light reflecting off the water and the way the old merchants' houses seem to glow from within.

A picturesque canal tour in the early morning shows you the city waking up; people in bathrobes watering plants on their houseboats, commuters cycling over the bridges, delivery boats bringing fresh bread to the canal-side cafés.

![A small electric canal boat navigating under a historic stone bridge, with canal houses reflected in the still water and locals on bikes crossing above. Filename: small-canal-boat-tour.jpg]()

The best canal cruise experience I've had was actually on a friend's boat during King's Day, but since you probably don't have Dutch friends with boats, try the evening wine-and-cheese cruises.

They're touristy, yes, but they're also genuinely lovely when the light turns golden and the city starts to glow.

The guides on these smaller canal tours and free ferries actually know Amsterdam history, not just the script they memorized about which building is the oldest.

For a different perspective, take one of the canal cruises that focus on architecture or history rather than just sightseeing.

These canal tours teach you to read the buildings; how to spot a merchant's house versus a warehouse, how to identify different centuries of construction, and why some houses lean forward and others lean sideways.

Reality check

Our canals are beautiful, but they're also functional infrastructure. People live in those canal houses, work in those converted warehouses, and commute on those bridges. It's not a theme park; it's a neighborhood.

Where Can I Find Real Amsterdam Food?

Forget what you've heard about Dutch food being bland. That reputation comes from people who only ate at tourist restaurants near Amsterdam Centraal Station.

The real street food scene here is fantastic, but you have to venture beyond the city center.

Head to the Albert Cuyp Market, but not for the cheese (though the cheese is good). Go for the stroopwafels made fresh by someone who's been working the same corner for twenty years. Watch him pour the caramel filling while the waffle is still warm in the iron.

This is what stroopwafels are supposed to taste like, not the packaged versions you find in souvenir shops.

![A vendor at Albert Cuyp Market preparing fresh stroopwafels on a traditional iron, steam rising from the warm waffles as caramel is spread between the layers. Filename: fresh-stroopwafels-market.jpg]()

However, street food in Amsterdam goes far beyond traditional Dutch snacks.

The Saturday market at Nieuwmarkt has incredible Surinamese roti, Syrian flatbreads, and the best falafel you'll find outside the Middle East. This is where locals actually eat street food, not at the overpriced stands targeting tourists.

![The Saturday market at Nieuwmarkt]()

For dinner, skip the restaurants on Damrak entirely. Instead, walk to De Pijp and find a brown café; that's what we call our traditional pubs.

Order the bitterballen (yes, they're basically fancy bar snacks, but they're our fancy bar snacks) and a local beer.

Strike up a conversation with whoever's sitting next to you. This is how you meet actual Amsterdam people.

The street food culture here reflects our city's diversity. Amsterdam is barely 50% ethnically Dutch these days, and our food scene shows it.

You'll find excellent Turkish döner, Vietnamese pho, Moroccan tagines, and Ethiopian injera, which are often made by second-generation immigrants who've perfected their parents' recipes for Dutch palates.

![Turkish döner]()

Pro tip

Our Indonesian restaurants are legitimately world-class if you want fancy food. The Netherlands has a complicated colonial history with Indonesia, but it left us with an incredible rijsttafel tradition. Try Restaurant Blauw or Tempo Doeloe.

Is the Red Light District Worth Visiting?

The Red Light District is probably the most misunderstood part of our city. Yes, it's a tourist attraction now, but it's also a historic neighborhood where people actually live and work.

It's been a red-light area for over 800 years; it predates most of our famous museums, and it's an integral part of Dutch history.

Visit during the day first. Walk through the narrow alleys when they're quiet, and you can see the beautiful old buildings.

The architecture here is some of the oldest in Amsterdam, and it tells stories about maritime trade, religious tolerance, and urban planning that go way beyond the neon signs.

![A quiet morning view of the Red Light District showing historic brick buildings with distinctive Amsterdam architecture, early morning light on cobblestones, before the evening crowds arrive. Filename: red-light-district-morning.jpg]()

Come back in the evening if you want the full experience, but remember: this is people's workplace and neighborhood. Be respectful. Don't take photos of the workers.

Don't act like you're at Disneyland. And definitely don't come here just to gawk; the red-light workers are professionals doing their jobs, not zoo animals.

![A busy night in the red light district]()

The reality

The area is perfectly safe, well-policed, and surrounded by great bars and restaurants. Casa Rosso has been putting on shows since 1968; it's cheesy, but it's also legitimately part of Amsterdam culture.

What About the Coffee Shops Everyone Talks About?

Here's what nobody tells you about Amsterdam coffee shops: most locals don't go to them. They're primarily for tourists, and that's fine; tourism is part of our economy. But if you're going to partake, do it responsibly.

The coffee shops in the city center are overpriced and overcrowded. Walk fifteen minutes in any direction and you'll find neighborhood spots with better prices, better atmosphere, and staff who actually want to help you rather than just move you through the line.

More importantly, Amsterdam is not a party destination where anything goes. We have rules, and breaking them makes life harder for everyone who lives here.

Please don't smoke on the street, don't be loud and obnoxious, and please don't stumble around our neighborhoods at 3 am.

The shops exist within a carefully regulated system that only works when everyone respects the boundaries.

![A cozy neighborhood coffee shop interior with locals reading newspapers, plants in the windows, and a relaxed atmosphere away from tourist crowds. Filename: local-coffee-shop-interior.jpg]()

Some of the better coffee shops also serve excellent actual coffee and have become genuine community spaces.

Barney's, for instance, has been operating since 1986 and feels more like a neighborhood café that happens to sell cannabis than a tourist attraction.

The staff can explain different strains, help you find something appropriate for your experience level, and recommend local cafés for the munchies afterward.

![A less visited coffee shop]()

Real talk

The most interesting thing about our drug policy isn't that it's permissive; it's that it's pragmatic. We treat addiction as a health issue, not a criminal one. That's the story worth understanding.

Where Do Locals Go for Art and Culture?

Everyone visits the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum (and you should too), but locals spend more time at the smaller galleries and alternative spaces. The art scene here is incredible, but most visitors miss it entirely because they're focused on the big museums.

![Amsterdam central station]()

Take a free walking tour through Amsterdam Noord; that's the area across the water from Central Station. You'll see massive murals, converted industrial spaces, and art installations that change monthly. The NDSM Wharf is basically an open-air gallery where artists rent shipping containers as studios.

This kind of walking tour shows you how Amsterdam's creative scene actually functions today.

The art here isn't just random graffiti. Much of it is commissioned, curated, and part of ongoing urban planning initiatives. The Bijlmermeer neighborhood, for instance, has transformed its reputation through strategic art programs that involve residents in the design process.

![Large-scale street art murals covering the side of a converted warehouse in Amsterdam Noord, with artists working on scaffolding and people cycling past on the waterfront. Filename: amsterdam-noord-street-art.jpg]()

Visit the Stedelijk Museum for Dutch art beyond the Golden Age masters. Its contemporary collection is world-class, and it does an excellent job of connecting Dutch modern art and artists to our historical traditions.

Plus, the building itself is architecturally fascinating; locals call it "the bathtub" because of its distinctive white facade.

Hidden gems

The art house cinema scene here is fantastic. EYE Film Museum shows everything from silent films with live musical accompaniment to experimental documentaries. It's in Amsterdam Noord, so combine it with your art exploration.

![The EYE Film Museum]()

Many locals prefer the smaller walking tours that focus on specific themes: art nouveau architecture, Jewish history, or the evolution of the red light district.

These walking tours are led by people who actually live here and can explain not just what you're seeing, but why it matters to contemporary Amsterdam life.

How Do I Experience Amsterdam Like a Local?

Rent a bike. I know, I know, everyone says this. But it's not just about transportation; it's about rhythm. Amsterdam moves at bike speed. When you're on foot, you're too slow. When you're in a car or bus, you're too fast. On a bike, you see the city the way it was designed to be seen.

![Hundreds of bicycles parked along a canal, with people of all ages cycling past traditional Dutch houses and small bridges in the background. Filename: amsterdam-bike-culture.jpg]()

Learn the unwritten rules: Bikes have right of way, but don't be an idiot about it. Ring your bell to announce yourself, not to complain. Stop at red lights. Don't cycle side-by-side in narrow bike lanes. And always, always lock your bike properly; bike theft is our most common crime.

The best Amsterdam experiences happen when you're not trying to have them. Sit in Vondelpark on a sunny afternoon and watch families having picnics.

Browse the Saturday market at Noordermarkt and listen to the vendors shouting in multiple languages. Get lost in the narrow streets of the Jordaan and discover a tiny courtyard garden you'll never find again.

![narrow streets of the Jordaan]()

What's the Deal with All the Museums?

Amsterdam has more museums per square kilometer than almost any other city in the world.

The Anne Frank House gets all the attention, but the Jewish Cultural Quarter tells a broader story about Amsterdam's Jewish community before, during, and after World War II.

The Portuguese Synagogue, completed in 1675, is still an active place of worship and one of the most beautiful buildings in the city.

![The interior of the Portuguese Synagogue with its massive wooden ark, hanging brass chandeliers, and afternoon light streaming through tall windows. Filename: portuguese-synagogue-interior.jpg]()

For something completely different, visit the Houseboat Museum. It's exactly what it sounds like: a museum inside an actual houseboat, and it'll give you insight into how a significant portion of Amsterdam residents live.

The space is tiny, ingeniously designed, and surprisingly comfortable.

Time-saving tip

Buy a Museum Card if you're staying more than three days. It pays for itself after three museum visits and gets you skip-the-line access at most places.

![Interior of the houseboat museum]()

Are There Good Day Trips from Amsterdam?

Everyone goes to Zaanse Schans to see the windmills, and it's lovely, but it's also basically a theme park version of the Dutch countryside. If you want to see working windmills that locals actually use, visit Kinderdijk.

It's an hour by train and bus, but you'll see nineteen historic windmills in their original landscape context.

![Kinderdijk historic windmills]()

Zaanse Schans has its place; the chocolate factory, cheese farm, and wooden shoe workshop are genuinely educational, and the windmills are photogenic.

But Zaanse Schans can feel artificial after an hour or two. The crowds are thick, the prices are high, and everything feels designed for tour buses rather than curious individuals.

![Carving traditional wooden shoes]()

For a more authentic version of what Zaanse Schans is trying to show you, take the train to Zaandam and cycle through the actual villages along the Zaan River. You'll see working windmills, traditional green wooden houses where people live, and industrial heritage sites that tell the real story of how the Netherlands became a trading powerhouse.

![Traditional windmills at Zaanse Schans reflected in still water, with visitors walking along wooden pathways and historic buildings in the background. Filename: zaanse-schans-windmills.jpg]()

If you do visit Zaanse Schans, go early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the light is better and the tour groups have left. The windmills are working machines, not just decoration, and seeing them in operation is genuinely impressive.

For a more authentic Dutch town experience, take the train to Haarlem. It's only twenty minutes away, but it feels like a different century.

The Saturday market in the Grote Markt is how Dutch markets used to be before they became tourist attractions. Buy some cheese, sit in the shadow of the enormous church, and watch regular Dutch life happen around you.

![Someone looking out of the Haarlem train with gentle lighting]()

Insider tip

The train to Haarlem passes through some of the most quintessentially Dutch landscapes you'll see: flat green fields, canals, and traditional farmhouses. Sit on the right side of the train for the best views.

What Makes Amsterdam's Architecture Special?

Those narrow, tilting houses aren't just picturesque; they're ingenious solutions to historical problems. Amsterdam was built on marshland, so foundations were always tricky.

The narrow facades were a response to property taxes based on street frontage. The forward lean was intentional; it made it easier to hoist furniture to upper floors using the pulleys you'll see at the top of most old buildings.

Understanding Amsterdam's architecture is one of the most overlooked things to do in Amsterdam, but it transforms how you see the city.

Every building tells a story about trade, technology, social status, and survival in a swampy delta. The merchants who built these houses weren't just showing off; they were solving practical problems in creative ways.

![A row of typical Amsterdam canal houses showing their characteristic narrow facades, forward lean, and ornate gables, with their reflections in the canal water below. Filename: canal-houses-architecture.jpg]()

Walk through the Begijnhof, a hidden courtyard near Spui that dates back to the 14th century. It was originally housing for religious women, and it's now some of the most peaceful real estate in the city center. The wooden house at number 34 is the oldest in Amsterdam, dating from around 1420.

![Begijnhof the hidden courtyard]()

The contrast between old and new architecture here is striking. Check out the EYE Film Museum building in Amsterdam Noord; it's all dramatic angles and white surfaces, utterly different from our traditional style but somehow still unmistakably Dutch in its bold functionality.

Where Should I Shop in Amsterdam?

Skip the touristy shopping streets around the city centre in Dam Square. Instead, explore the Nine Streets (De Negen Straatjes), a network of narrow shopping streets in the canal district. You'll find independent boutiques, vintage clothing stores, and specialty shops that you won't see anywhere else in the world.

![A charming narrow shopping street in the Nine Streets area, with small independent boutiques, people browsing window displays, and bicycles parked along the cobblestones. Filename: nine-streets-shopping.jpg]()

The floating flower market (Bloemenmarkt) is worth a visit, but don't expect to buy tulip bulbs that you can actually take home; most countries have import restrictions on plant materials. Instead, buy some Dutch flower seeds or just enjoy the spectacle of an entire market built on houseboats.

![The Dutch flower market in the early morning sun]()

For books, visit the American Book Center or Athenaeum Boekhandel. Both have excellent English-language sections and knowledgeable staff who can recommend Dutch authors in translation.

![The Athenaeum Boekhandel from outside]()

How Do I Navigate Amsterdam's Nightlife?

Amsterdam nightlife isn't just about the red light district or tourist-oriented clubs. Our best bars are the brown cafes; traditional pubs with dark wood interiors, low lighting, and a relaxed atmosphere where conversation is still possible.

![The outise of Cafe Hoppe at night]()

Try Café Hoppe, which has been serving beer since 1670, or Wynand Fockink, a tiny jenever (Dutch gin) tasting house hidden in an alley behind the Amsterdam Museum. The bartenders at Wynand Fockink know more about Dutch spirits than most people know about anything.

![The cozy interior of a traditional brown café with dark wood paneling, locals sitting at small tables with beer glasses, and warm light from vintage fixtures. Filename: brown-cafe-interior.jpg]()

For live music, check out Concertgebouw (world-class classical music), Paradiso (everything from indie rock to electronic), or Café Central (jazz and blues in an intimate setting). The music scene here is surprisingly diverse for a city of our size.

Late-night tip

After midnight, head to Rembrandtplein or Leidseplein for clubs, but remember that Amsterdam isn't Berlin; most things close by 4 am, and public transport stops running around 1 am on weeknights.

What About Amsterdam's Parks and Green Spaces?

Vondelpark gets all the attention, and it's lovely, but it's also crowded with tourists doing yoga and street performers competing for space. For a more local experience, visit Westerpark or Oosterpark. These are where Amsterdam families actually go for picnics and weekend bike rides.

![Families having picnics in Westerpark on a sunny day, with children playing, people cycling on paths, and modern apartment buildings visible in the background. Filename: westerpark-local-families.jpg]()

The Hortus Botanicus is one of the world's oldest botanical gardens, and it's a peaceful escape from the city center crowds. The greenhouse complex includes a subtropical rainforest and a desert climate section; it's like traveling the world without leaving Amsterdam.

![Hortus Botanicus botanical gardens greenhouse comples from the inside]()

Secret spot

The rooftop park at the Central Library (OBA) offers one of the best free views in the city. Take the escalator to the seventh floor, walk outside, and you'll see Amsterdam spread out below you. Bring a book and pretend you're a local taking a reading break.

![View from the rooftop park at the Central Library (OBA)]()

How Much Time Do I Really Need in Amsterdam?

Things to do in Amsterdam depend entirely on what kind of traveler you are.

If you're here for the greatest hits: Van Gogh Museum, a canal tour, and some Indonesian food, you can do it in two days. But you'll be checking boxes, not experiencing a city.

Give yourself at least four days. That's enough time to visit the major museums without rushing, explore different neighborhoods, take a day trip, and have some unscheduled time to discover things that aren't in any guidebook.

Four days lets you experience the rhythm of Amsterdam life: the morning commute, the afternoon café culture, the evening light on the canals.

A week is even better. That's when you start to notice the subtle things that only reveal themselves over time. You'll find your favorite café, discover the shortcut through Vondelpark that avoids the crowds, and maybe even start to feel like a temporary local rather than a tourist.

![Vondelpark in the morning sunlight]()

The best things to do in Amsterdam aren't scheduled activities; they're the moments when you slow down enough to notice how the city actually works, watching the morning rush hour from a café window and realizing that most commuters are on bikes, not in cars.

Discovering that the narrow canal houses have enormous windows because glass was cheaper than brick.

Timing matters

Things to do in Amsterdam change dramatically with the seasons. Summer brings festival season, outdoor markets, and long evenings when the light stays golden until 10 pm. Winter means cozy brown cafés, excellent museum weather, and the Christmas markets that locals actually visit.

If you're planning things to do in Amsterdam around specific events, book accommodation early. King's Day (27 April) transforms the entire city into an orange-wearing street party, but hotel prices triple and everything is booked months in advance.

The Real Amsterdam Experience

Here's what I hope you take away from your time in Amsterdam: this city works because we've figured out how to balance individual freedom with collective responsibility. Our drug policy, our approach to sex work, our cycling infrastructure, our social housing; it all reflects a particular way of thinking about how people should live together.

The best Amsterdam experiences aren't attractions you visit; they're moments when you understand something about how we've chosen to organize our society.

When you're cycling through the city, you realize that infrastructure can be designed around human beings instead of cars. When you're sitting in a brown café and notice that people from completely different backgrounds are having conversations at neighboring tables.

![A typical Amsterdam street scene at golden hour, with locals cycling home from work, canal houses glowing in warm light, and people sitting at outdoor café terraces. Filename: amsterdam-golden-hour-street.jpg]()

These Amsterdam experiences happen when you stop trying to have them and start paying attention to the ordinary magic of daily life here. They're why people fall in love with this city despite the crowds, the high prices, and the sometimes-grumpy locals.

The things to do in Amsterdam that matter most can't be scheduled or ticketed.

They're the result of slowing down, staying curious, and remembering that you're visiting a place where people actually live, work, dream, and argue about the same things people say about everywhere, just with better bike infrastructure and more liberal drug laws.

That's the Amsterdam that isn't in the brochure. It's not a perfect city; we have housing shortages, overtourism problems, and social tensions like everywhere else. But it's a city that's still trying to figure out how to be better, how to be more humane, how to make space for everyone.

![An aerial shot of Amsterdam at night]()

Come for the canals and the museums, sure. But stay long enough to notice the things that don't make it onto postcards.

That's where the real story is, and that's what transforms a tourist visit into something that changes how you think about cities, communities, and what's possible when people decide to prioritize human dignity over maximum profit, honest Dutch culture.

Maartje van Dijk is a freelance writer and Amsterdam native who specializes in showing visitors the city behind the tourist facade. When she's not writing, she can be found cycling through Vondelpark with her rescue dog or defending the honor of Dutch cheese in arguments with French tourists.